NANJING — A freight train route has been launched between Suzhou, a major export hub in East China, and Lao capital Vientiane, according to the train operator.

A train carrying goods such as LCDs and auto parts, with a total value of about 50 million yuan ($7.85 million), departed from Suzhou on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in Vientiane in seven days, according to Suzhou International Train Freight Co Ltd.

This is the first Suzhou-Vientiane freight train after the 1,035-km China-Laos railway started operation on Dec 3, 2021.

“In the future, the China-Laos Railway freight train is expected to run weekly and become a stable international logistics channel,” said Zhang Fan, general manager of Suzhou International Train Freight Co Ltd.